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World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

  • Thread starter Thread starter Priceless
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Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

I'm surprised no one has tried to blame Obama for the draw yet.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Slow day at work today, so I created an Excel version of the 2014 Bracket. It should work for the first 3 (of 7) tiebreakers. I'm too lazy to try and figure out how to break the ties beyond that. If you see an error I can fix it, but in basic testing everything worked.

Password protected it simply to keep from accidentally deleting formulas. You can unlock it if you want. Password is "brazil" for all pages.

wc2014.xlsx
 
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Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

RaceBoarder said:
Well, Let's Just F*ing Do It!!!

I like the point that the author of that takes... Just go out and do it...
Click to expand...

Hell, that's about all we can do about it anyways, go out there and whip all of their sorry butts for being in our way. Hell, we would likely have to beat any of those teams if redid the draws and had them spread out in different groups. Its time to take "Don't tread on me!!" to heart!
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Well, I suppose it could have been worse. We could have been drawn into Group B or Group D (can you imagine Spain, Chile, Netherlands, USA or Uruguay, England, Italy, USA?). While Jurgen may not like to hear it, the USA has traditionally over-performed when the underdog ('94, '02), and has been horrible as a "favorite" ('98, '06). I would say in 2010 we did about as expected.

The travel sucks, but I do think that most US players are probably more used to traveling long distances for matches than players for most other countries. The USA has traditionally done well in World Cups not played in Europe ('30 - Semifinalists, '50 - "shocked the world" against England, '94 - 2nd round, '02 - Quarters, '10 - 2nd round). Hopefully, that run can continue.

As has been pointed out by others, I too am pleased with at least the schedule in our group. IF the US can get three points against Ghana, that will be enormous...and likely the only way the US advance through to the Knockout stages. I'm realistically hoping for USA and Germany to emerge with 3 points after the first game (despite that it is usually best to have the opposite game tie), then a USA draw with Portugal in game 2 along with a Germany win over Ghana. That would leave the USA only needing a draw to advance, along with Germany only needing a draw to win the group. How about a re-kindling of the '90 Cup and just a bunch of passing back and forth and a 0-0 draw? :p:D:D

While there were obviously other groups that would have been preferred, the USA has grown a lot over the past 20 years to the point where they can advance if they play well. Ultimately, I think they need at least 4 points heading into the final match against Germany. If they do that, they will have a good shot at moving through to the Knockout stages where a decent draw against Group H would await for a trip to the Quarters.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/12/united-states-2014-world-cup-draw-portugal-germany-ghana/

Titled "Stop freaking out about the United States' World Cup draw"

Yes, this is a hard group.

Really, it couldn’t have been more difficult. The Americans open the tournament against Ghana, who eliminated the U.S. in the last two World Cups, and then face two of Europe’s best teams in Portugal (in the Amazon rainforest) and Germany (who the U.S. lost to in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups).

Compounding the task of advancing to the second round is the ridiculous amount of travel facing the United States. The Americans will have logged nearly 9,000 miles after they complete group play. To recap: The U.S. will play the team that has ended their last two World Cup runs, one of the best players in the World, and a three-time World Cup champion.

In 20 years, there hasn’t been a harder Group of Death. But this is why it’s going to be OK.
Click to expand...
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
That article only states the original, not the new, kickoff time.
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It did, but you have to divine them...

USA-Portugal from 3 PM to 6 PM
England - Italy and Cameroon - Croatia also moved from 3 PM to 6 PM
Ivory Coast - Japan now @ 10 PM
Spain - Chile now 4PM (from ??)
Belgium - Russia from 7PM to 1PM
South Korea - Algeria 1PM to 4PM
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

c'mon!!! nufc won for the first time in 41 yrs today at old trafford. ANYTHING is possible!! :D
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Shirtless Guy said:
In other news, why did the US pick their training facility before the draw? Wouldn't practicing in Recife/Natal or somewhere else in NE Brazil make more sense with 2 games up there?
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I think we landed in about the only group spot in the whole tournament where the training facility we have doesn't make sense.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

joecct said:
It did, but you have to divine them...

USA-Portugal from 3 PM to 6 PM
Click to expand...
Boo I say, boo! 3pm on a Sunday is perfect for some day drinking, a postgame dinner, and getting to bed at a reasonable hour before the work week.
 
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